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First Man is a biographical drama film that tells the story of the first manned mission to the Moon, Apollo 11, from the perspective of astronaut Neil Armstrong. Directed by Damien Chazelle and starring Ryan Gosling in the lead role, the film is based on the book First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong by James R. Hansen. The movie opens with Armstrong flying an X-15 rocket plane at the edge of the Earth's atmosphere, a scene that introduces the audience to the high-stakes, high-risk world of space exploration. The story then shifts to Armstrong's personal life, where we see him grieving the loss of his young daughter Karen to cancer. This tragedy sets the tone for the emotional journey that is to follow.

Despite the constant danger and tragedy, Armstrong is chosen by NASA to be part of the team that will attempt to land a man on the Moon. Along with fellow astronauts Buzz Aldrin (played by Corey Stoll) and Mike Collins (Lukas Haas), Armstrong undergoes intensive training, including spending time in a lunar landing simulator and practicing space walks in a pool.

The film also portrays the often-forgotten contributions of the people back on Earth who helped make the moon landing possible, including the engineers and support staff who designed and operated the spacecraft. These scenes show the behind-the-scenes efforts that made it possible for Armstrong and his team to complete their mission.

The tension builds as the launch date approaches, and the film captures the excitement and anxiety of the team as they prepare for the mission. When Apollo 11 finally launches, the audience is given a spectacular view of the rocket as it explodes through the Earth's atmosphere and hurtles towards the Moon.

But the road to the Moon is far from smooth, and the risks and dangers of space travel become all too real when Armstrong and Aldrin attempt to land their spacecraft on the Moon's surface. The scene is tense, and the small size of the lunar module creates a feeling of claustrophobia that adds to the sense of danger.

Despite the challenges and setbacks, the mission is ultimately a success, and Armstrong and Aldrin make history by becoming the first people to walk on the Moon. The film shows the enormity of this achievement not just for the individuals involved but for the entire world, with scenes of celebrations and reactions from people around the globe.

The film's final scenes show Armstrong coping with the aftermath of the mission and the way it changed his life, both professionally and personally. With both triumph and tragedy serving as bookends to the story, the film is a powerful portrayal of human achievement and the sacrifices that were made to make the impossible dreams of space travel a reality.

Overall, First Man is a powerful, intense and often emotional film that offers a realistic portrayal of the Apollo 11 mission and the individuals who made it happen. It is a tribute to the human spirit, and a testament to what can be achieved when vision, courage, and perseverance are combined. With strong performances from the cast and masterful direction from Chazelle, the film is a fitting tribute to the brave men and women who risked everything to explore the unknown depths of space.

First Man is a 2018 history movie with a runtime of 2 hours and 18 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3 and a MetaScore of 84.